Swivel connector



Nov. 7, 1961 T. c. MILLS 3,007,730

SWIVEL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qflmm 77w Nov. 7,1961 v T. c. MILLS SWIVEL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 4. 1959v United States atent O 3,007,730 SWIVEL CONNECTOR Thomas C. Mills,Wheaten, Ill., assignor to American- Marietta Company, a corporation ofIllinois Filed Nov. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 850,945 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-93)This invention relates to a swivel connector for releasably securing ahandle to a pivot member.

The invention will be described with particular reference to a structurein which the pivot member is mounted in a mop head, but it will beunderstood that the conneotor may be used to attach a handle to manydifierent articles, such as, for example, brushes, brooms, Squeegees,etc.

The swivel connector is provided with a clamping element adapted to holdthe handle firmly secured to the pivot memberas, for example, on a mophead-and is provided with a push button control so that the handle maybe readily attached to or detached from the mop head. The connectorpermits easy, convenient removal of the mop head from its handle so thatthe mop head can be thrown into an automatic washing machine for washingand later when clean can be readily snapped back into place on the mophandle.

The swivel connector comp-rises a socket for holding one end of ahandle, and a resilient clamping element for detachably securing thesocket to a stud or pivot member mounted in a mop head. The socketmember has a journal portion that is open on one side. The resilientclamping member is secured to the socket in such a manner that in itsoperative position it blocks the open side of the journal portion so asto engage the socket and the pivot member, and when pressed away fromthe open side of the journal portion permits disengagement of those twomembers. When in its operative position the resilient member preferablypresses against the pivot member (which in turn is pressed against thejournal portion of the socket) with a rotatable, frictional, resilientengagement.

The resilient clamping element is provided with resilient flangesadapted to fit between the top of the socket and protuberances extendinginwardly from the lower edges of the side walls of the socket to holdthe clamping element against separation from the socket. The resilienceof the flanges enables them to be pressed inwardly by the protuber ancesas the clamping element is pushed into engagement with the socket. Whenthe flanges clear the protuberances they snap into place and and arepractically inaccessible for removal.

The structure by means of which the above-mentioned and other advantagesof the invention are attained will be described in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a swivel connector embodying thenvention attached to a mop head and having a fragmentary portion of ahandle secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of the mop head, showing the pivotmember to which the swivel connector is adapted to be releasablyattached;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of the swivel connector;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view, taken substantially along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 5; with the mop head structure omitted; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the pushbutton control depressed to release the swivel connector from the mophead.

In the drawings, a mop head 2 has a tapered depression 3 with an opening4 at the lowermost portion of the depression. Side walls 5 extendupwardly above the top 6 of the mop head at each longitudinal edge ofthe depression. A projection 7 integral with each side Wall extendsupwardly at each end of opening 4 and is apertured, as indicated at S,to receive a stud or pivot memher 9.

The peripheral edge 10 of mop head 2 is provided with a gooseneck recess11 in which the upper beaded edge of a mop body 12 is secured.

The swivel connector comprises a socket 13 and a clamping element 14secured thereto. The upper end of the socket is provided with a tubularextension 15 in which the lower end of a handle 16 is firmly secured.

The lower end of the socket comprises a top wall 17 having an opening 18(shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) and a pair of depending side walls 19. Flanges2t) projecting above top wall 17 at each side of opening 18 extend fromthe front edge of opening 18 rearward-1y to the lower end of tubularextension 15. Each side wall 19 has a lateral protuberance 21 extendinginwardly therefrom between the rear edge of opening 18 and the lower endof tubular extension 15, and another lateral protuberance 21a at theforward end of the side wall. A boss 23 depends from the portion of topwall 17 between opening 18 and the lower end of tubular extension 15 tohelp secure clamping element 14 in place. Boss 23 is preferably annular,as shown, but may be solid, if desired, and may be of any desired shape.

The front edge of each side wall 19 is recessed to form a journalportion, as indicated at 22, in which stud or pivot member 9 isreceived.

Clamping member 14 comprises a strip of resilient metal having a flatsection 24 fitting in opening 18 and normally projecting slightly abovetop wall 17. Section 24 acts as a push button control for the clampingmember. The metal strip is bent downwardly at the rear end of section 24to form a vertical section 25, and then rearwardl y to form a flatsection '26 parallel to section 24. Section 26 is provided with anopening 27 adapted to fit around boss 23. Opening 27 is shown as beingcircular, but may be of any shape to fit the outer perimeter of boss 23.Each longitudinal edge of section 26 is bent upwardly and thendownwardly to form an upstanding rib 28 and a depending flange 29. Eachflange 29 is substantial-ly parallel to the inner surface of wall 19against which it tits.

When the clamping element is to be assembled with socket 13, section 24is pushed into opening 18 and boss 23 is pushed into opening 27. Duringthe assembly, flanges 29 flex inwardly to pass protuberances 21. As soonas the lower end of each flange 29 clears its protuberance 21 it snapsoutwardly into engagement with the inner surface of adjacent sidewall19. As best seen in FIG. 6, flanges 29 fit so tightly against side wall19 and between the upper surface of protuberances 21 and the undersideof top wall 17 that it is practically impossible to dislodge eitherflange to remove clamping element 14 from socket 13 after they areassembled into a unit.

The metal clamping member is bent downwardly to form a vertical section30 adjacent the front edge of opening 18 and then bent forwardly toprovide another fiat section 31 parallel to sections 24 and 26. Section31 is provided with ears 32 that extend upwardly and out- Wardly toprotuberances 21a to limit the downward movement of push button section24. Ears 32 engage protuberances 21a and act as stop members if pushbutton 24 is pressed downwardly far enough.

The forward end of flat section 31 of the clamping member is bentupwardly at right angles to form a lip 33 having its upper, free endcurved forwardly, as indicated at 34. Lip 33 traverses the open frontend of recess or notch 22 when the clamping element is in its normaloperative position assembled with socket 13.

Push button 24 is depressed to move lip 33 downwardly far enough toclear recess 22 and is held against return movement by thumb pressureuntil the swivel connector is pushed forwardly and downwardly indepression 3 to cause recess 22 to engage pivot member 9. The thumbpressure is then removed from push button 24 and the forward end of theclamping element springs back into its operative position. Lip 33extends across the open side of recess 22 to confine pivot member 9 insaid recess or journal portion. Pivot member 9 acts as an axle aroundwhich handle 16 pivots.

Opening 4 provides sufficient clearance under the bottom of the frontportion of the clamping member to permit downward movement of said frontportion to release the clamping member from pivot member 9 when desired.The handle and clamping member are then pulled rearwardly to separatethe swivel connector and handle from pivot member 9. The thumb pressureon push button 24 is released as soon as the separating move ment of theclamping member from pivot member 9 is completed.

The above detailed description is given for olearness of understandingonly. No unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, sincemodifications will be ob vious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A swivel connector for releasably attaching a handle to a pivotmember which comprises: socket means having a journal portion receivingsaid pivot member and having an upper end portion adapted to receivesaid handle, said journal portion being open on one side; a springolamping element; and means for securing said clamping element to saidsocket means, said spring clamping element being disposed in itsoperative position to block the open side of said journal portion andbeing adapted to be pressed away from said open side to permit saidpivot member to be engaged with and disengaged from said journalportion, said socket means having an aperture in one side thereof intowhich said spring clamping element extends, with a portion of saidelement exposed, to provide a push button control for moving the springclamping element out of engagement with said pivot member.

2. A swivel connector for releasably attaching a handle to a pivotmember which comprises: socket means having a journal portion receivingsaid pivot member and having an upper end portion adapted to receivesaid handie, said journal portion being open on one side; a springclamping element; and protuberances on said socket means for engagingsaid clamping element and securing it to the socket, said springclamping element being disposed in its operative position to block theopen side of said journal portion and to be urged against and inrotatable, frictional, resilient engagement with said pivot member andbeing adapted to be pressed away from said open side to permit saidpivot member to be engaged with and disengaged from said journalportion, said socket means having an aperture in one side thereof intowhich said spring clamping element extends, with a portion of saidelement exposed, to provide a push button control for moving the springclamping element out of engagement with said pivot member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

